Chapter 84: Happy Birthday (2)

My birthday fell on a Saturday when we could meet relatively freely.

Not wanting to miss this miraculous coincidence, So-yul immediately made plans.

“Come to the piano room Saturday morning. I’ll be preparing a birthday party.”

As she said this with a broad smile, she looked overwhelmingly happy.

Was she that delighted about being able to celebrate her boyfriend’s birthday?

Finding this endearing, I felt warmth spread through me as I watched her. I gently patted So-yul’s back.

Each time my hand touched her, she let out a faint laugh and leaned against me even more.

Her demeanor conveyed trust and affection toward me. I felt warm emotions welling up from deep inside my chest.

“What should I do? I’m so excited I might not sleep until Saturday.”

“Pfft. There are still five days left—how could you not sleep at all? Dummy.”

Even at my obvious joke, So-yul responded with a gentle smile.

Of course, even that aspect of her was incredibly endearing to me.

While carefully embracing So-yul’s fragile back, I continued:

“That’s how excited I am.”

“…Really?”

“Wouldn’t it be natural? After everything that’s happened, my birthdays usually just ended with friends saying congratulations.”

At my words, So-yul momentarily stiffened, then:

“Y-yes. I’m sure that’s how it was.”

She responded in a somewhat subdued voice, as if she understood what I meant by “everything that’s happened.”

I hadn’t meant to make her feel down. I forcefully cleared my throat and continued:

“So I’m happy just knowing you’ll celebrate my birthday. Whatever gift I receive, whatever party you throw, it’ll make me incredibly happy.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

These were sincere words.

Since being abandoned by my mother, I hadn’t properly been celebrated on my birthday.

Neither my mother who rejected me, nor my father who became a complete stranger, sent even a single congratulatory message. At most, I’d receive a brief “happy birthday” from friends.

For me, birthdays were definitely not a welcome occasion.

Now I had someone precious who would celebrate this birthday with me.

Wasn’t it completely natural to be overwhelmed with happiness?

“Hehe. Then I should put even more effort into preparing.”

So-yul, having listened to my story, made this promise with a face blooming with smiles.

As I often did for her, she gently stroked my back with her small, delicate hand.

“Well, you don’t need to put in that much effort…”

“Yes I do. My boyfriend will be this happy—of course I should do my best.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

So-yul nodded vigorously with her face pressed against my chest.

With my girlfriend’s determination being this strong, I could only accept it gratefully, and I let out a light laugh.

Until Saturday arrived, So-yul didn’t mention a single word about my birthday.

Well, she had kept what she would give me a secret. She even told me to wait anxiously until the day itself. It wasn’t strange that she was trying to keep everything hidden.

Of course, this only made me more curious.

If she hadn’t said anything at all, I would have just waited until the day. But seeing her so thoroughly hiding and concealing everything actually made me want to know more—that’s human psychology.

“…Couldn’t you give me just a tiny hint about what you’re preparing for my birthday?”

When I finally couldn’t hold back and asked this, So-yul blinked her large eyes for a moment.

But soon she covered her mouth and chuckled playfully, then whispered:

“What? I already told you no. This kind of thing should be saved for the fun of the actual day.”

“I know that, but I’m just too curious.”

“Hmm~”

So-yul let out a prolonged sound as if deliberately stalling, then:

“Are you that curious?”

“Yes. So just a little, just a tiny, just one hint.”

“…Hmm, what should I do?”

As I kept urging her for a hint, So-yul gently placed her index finger on her chin. She appeared to be lost in thought.

Perhaps she was considering what hint to give me. With a small hope, I eagerly awaited her lips to part.

Eventually, So-yul spread a sly smile across her face.

She stuck out her cute tongue through her tightly closed lips, then:

“Nope. I won’t tell you. Dummy.”

“…”

My girlfriend was certainly resolute.

Still, it had been a while since I’d seen her this playful. Just for that, I felt the question had been worth asking.

Anyway, I’d find out in a few days, so there was no need to be impatient.

As I comforted myself with this not-so-effective consolation, after a moment, So-yul fidgeted with her fingers and said:

“B-but, you know.”

“Yes? What is it?”

What could she want to ask that made her hesitate this much?

When I quietly asked back, So-yul cast her gaze somewhere distant and said:

“…I-if, by chance, you were to receive a homemade cake, would you prefer cream or chocolate?”

“…”

If this was her approach, why bother claiming she would keep it a secret?

Of course, there was no reason to ruin the surprise by saying, “Hey, are you planning to give me a homemade cake?”

A homemade cake would surely be a gift filled with sincerity. It would be better to quietly look forward to So-yul’s present.

With this in mind, I pretended not to notice and gave my answer:

“I’m not picky about taste or food, so either way, I’d enjoy eating whatever I received.”

“But everyone has preferences, right? Something you’d choose if you had to pick just one.”

“Well…”

To be perfectly honest, I really didn’t care either way.

But judging by how persistently she was asking, she wouldn’t be satisfied with such an answer.

I sank into deep thought for a moment, then:

“What do you prefer?”

“Me?”

When the target suddenly switched, So-yul pointed to herself with a seemingly flustered look, then:

“W-well, I do prefer chocolate…”

“Makes sense, chocolate is perfect for a kid’s taste.”

“Shut up.”

At my teasing remark, So-yul’s lips immediately protruded in a pout.

Her brow furrowed slightly, and both cheeks puffed up a bit.

I gazed intently at that adorable face as I answered:

“Then I’ll go with chocolate as my preference too.”

“You’ll go with it as your preference? You don’t have to match my taste…”

So-yul mumbled anxiously, apparently surprised by my unexpected answer.

She should just accept it, but I wondered why she was so flustered.

I smiled and decided to stroke her hair.

When I reached out my hand toward her head, So-yul slightly lowered it.

She now naturally positioned herself to make it easier for me to pat her head.

As I gently stroked So-yul’s hair, I said:

“It’s fine. My preference is whatever the person I like prefers.”

“W-what?”

So-yul hunched her shoulders at the unexpectedly cheesy remark.

With her head lowered and eyes looking up at me, her shyness was evident.

Just seeing her small ears peeking through her hair turning bright red confirmed it.

“…Really.”

Perhaps because I spoke so decisively, So-yul had nothing to say in response. Finally, she bit her lip as if trying to endure her embarrassment and silently accepted my touch.

It seemed my birthday present was decided: a homemade chocolate cake.

This way, we embraced our excited feelings and waited for Saturday morning to arrive.

The first opportunity to properly celebrate a special day for us, who rarely got to commemorate occasions.

Because it was infinitely precious and deeply meaningful, I expected that day would surely be filled with happiness.

◎

Finally, Saturday arrived.

As soon as I woke up and looked out the window, I saw a thick, whitish fog hanging in the air.

The fog hadn’t lifted even though morning had broken after dawn. I felt the weather was unusually ominous today.

In any case, today was my birthday. It was also the day So-yul had promised to prepare a small birthday party.

Since we would be spending time indoors, just the two of us, I brushed off concerns about the weather.

Skipping breakfast and idly passing time, I left the dormitory just as the doors were about to close.

Suppressing my feelings of anticipation and excitement, I headed, of course, to the arts track building where the piano room was located.

Avoiding the crowded elevator, I took the emergency stairs.

With each step up, my heart pounded faster, and my pace quickened.

I found myself smiling involuntarily, feeling extremely excited.

If someone had caught me, they might have thought I was strange. I was that elated.

With brisk steps, I arrived at the floor where the piano room was located.

Just as I was about to open the emergency exit door and step into the hallway,

“…What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

I realized a sharp voice was thundering from inside the piano room.